AMHERST - Town officials once again are trying to deal with traffic and speeding cars in the Lincoln Avenue neighborhood by blocking motorists traveling from Amity Street to the University of Massachusetts via Lincoln Avenue.

Officials are considering closing Lincoln Avenue at the North Hadley Road intersection to prevent drivers from using Lincoln as a straight route from Amity Street to Massachusetts Avenue and the university.

According to the proposal, the experiment would begin in April and last into fall.

Officials are holding a public hearing on the project Tuesday at 7:15 p.m. in Town Hall. The Select Board ultimately has to approve it.

People in the neighborhood have raised traffic concerns for decades and town officials have tried various ways to address the issues of volume and speed. Temporary speed cushions were put in place in late 2007. That slowed vehicle speed but did not reduce the volume.

Most recently temporary barriers were put in place, however, many complained about those. Also Department of Public Works Superintendent Guilford B. Mooring said those did not reduce volume or speed as drivers found ways of skirting the barriers.

The proposal now was actually suggested originally, Mooring said. But concerns about emergency vehicles having access were raised. Mooring said those issues have been worked out and emergency responders will have a key to unlock the chain blocking access.

With the closures, motorists will have to use North Pleasant Street or University Drive to get to UMass from downtown. At this point, drivers will be able to leave the campus via Sunset Avenue.

"We recognize the challenge in managing traffic patterns on streets adjacent to the university, and we will support whatever decision town officials make following the public hearing," said UMass spokesman Edward F. Blaguszewski in a statement.